Around the world for sport

Fancy a sports vacation? Every year people jet set off to far-away lands to spend time watching sports. We live in a world where we have high definition, 3D images of the top sporting events beamed direct to our living rooms, but many people still prefer the thrill and excitement of watching sports live.

Live sporting events offer so much more than you can get from viewing at home. You can feel the buzz of excitement, hear and see every player and ride on the waves of euphoria following a winning point or moan in unison with fellow supporters when your team is failing to perform. While most people are content with the local sports team, today many people are heading overseas to enjoy some major sports. Some of the best sporting venues and best teams can be found outside of America.

NFL in London

Every year the NFL plays three games at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. This is the ultimate experience for NFL fans as it provides an opportunity to visit the stadium, which is the largest in Europe, seating 90,000 people.

It is also an excellent excuse to visit London and take in the sights and sounds of Europe’s best city. Wembley is easy to get to, you can fly to various London airports from all over America and the stadium is well served by public transport.

Surfing in Hawaii

You do not have to be a surfer to enjoy the sport of surfing. The ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) concludes their World Tours at The Pipeline in Hawaii. The Pipeline is a surf reef break and this stretch of beach has some of the best surfing in the world with huge waves breaking in shallow water. The waves form the classic thick curls that allow surfers to “tube ride” inside. The Pipeline is thought to be the world’s deadliest wave. This can make an amazing summer vacation for all the family, or a highlight of a tour of the Hawaiian Islands.

Getting to Hawaii can be expensive so be sure to shop around for the best flights. Start your research long before you travel.

Lord’s Cricket Ground – London

There are few games more English than cricket, and few cricket grounds more British than Lord’s. Lord’s cricket ground is located in the heart of London to the west of Regents Park. The most anticipated match at Lord’s is an Ashes test match between Australia and England. The Ashes are played every two years and England and Australia take it in turns to host the tournament, so expect to wait up to four years to catch the two teams at Lord’s. Cricket at Lord’s is something not to be missed. The cricket ground hosts many other matches throughout the year and all are popular.

Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center

The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the top pro ice hockey teams in the USA. They play their home games at the Wells Fargo Center, which is a purpose built sports arena. This is a fantastic venue and certainly one the best sports venues in North America. Some of the best games are against the New York Rangers, the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils. These games always have an electric atmosphere that is fueled by rivalries that date back to the 1970s. If you can get to one of these games you will witness some of the best pro ice hockey on offer anywhere in the world. Book your Philadelphia Flyers tickets in advance to ensure that you do not miss the match of a lifetime.

AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

Another cricket ground, but it is on the opposite side of the world to Lord’s and this is not cricket. The Australian Football League grand final is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) every year and is the highlight of the Australian sporting calendar.

Australian football is like a combination of NFL and soccer. Outside of Australia it is often referred to as Australian Rules football. The scoring is closer to soccer but players can use any part of their body to control the ball, including hands. Unlike NFL and rugby, players cannot throw the ball. It is a fast paced game and the grand final pits Australia’s two best teams against each other at the tenth-largest stadium in the world.

There are many other amazing venues around the world. For soccer fans the Maracanã in Brazil is a must. If you like golf then you must head to the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia and watch the annual Masters Tournament. For something completely different seek out some Hurling matches in Ireland, it is a sport different from all others and is thought to be one of the most dangerous team sports played. One of its appeals today is that it is a relatively cheap sport to watch.